Expert Tips for a Perfect Blowout, Every Time

When it comes to styling your hair, practice really does make perfect (we promise!). We've pulled together our favorite expert tips to help you achieve professional results right at home.

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Aug 26, 2013

A gorgeous blowout
While nothing can truly top the feeling of walking out of the salon with a stellar blowout, you can get pretty close at home. To start, you'll need an up-to-date blow dryer with an attached nozzle. If your old dryer emits a glowing red light, replace it because "it'll overheat and burn your hair," says Edward Tricomi, master stylist and co-owner of Warren-Tricomi Salons.

Spray a thermal protectant on damp hair and add a smoothing cream to accelerate the process. Then, let hair air dry a bit to reduce blow-drying time, which will decrease the risk of damage. The trick is to be meticulous and work in a circle, says Tricomi. His "ABC" method for blow-drying results in the ultimate blowout — without over-drying the ends. First, separate hair into four sections. Take the first section (clip up the rest) and blow-dry in thirds. Hold a wooden, round-brush with boar bristles under the first several inches of hair "A" and aim the nozzle down the shaft (not at the floor). Dry only that section. Then, concentrate on the mid-shaft area "B" until it's dry, and, finally, finish the last several inches at the end, part "C." Repeat the same steps for the remaining three sections.

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The perfect curls
Sometimes a little curl is all you need to add that extra oomph to your look. Opt for a curling rod with a 1½-inch barrel (the smaller the barrel, the tighter the curls). Look for an iron that has adjustable heat-settings — the finer your hair, the less heat you need. If the heat setting spans between 1 and 10, set it to 6 for fine hair and 10 for coarse strands.

First, spray a heat thermal protector on dry hair and detangle any knots. Next, clip up hair and leave a 1½-inch section at the nape of your neck. Mist the section with a lightweight hairspray, which "defines, maintains curls, and keeps them really shiny," says Jenny Cho, Suave Professionals celebrity stylist. Then, wind the section around the wand, leaving the ends untouched, for roughly five seconds. When it comes to curling the sides, avoid unsightly burns by tilting your head to keep a safe distance between your skin and the rod. (Cho recommends that novice curlers wrap a towel around their neck.) Mist and curl section by section. Lastly, gently finger-comb hair for a natural finish.

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Super sleek strands
It's critical to choose a high-quality flat iron with ceramic plates, which tend to cause less damage. Also, get one with a heat setting display, says Cho. For fine or damaged hair, set the temperature to no more than 300 degrees. Iron average-weight hair between 300 and 380 degrees. Reserve 400 degrees for thick, coarse strands.

Straightening hair follows a similar process as curling. First, spritz a heat protectant spray onto tangle-free hair. Once it dries, spray a light hairspray onto a 1½-inch section to seal the cuticle at the nape of the neck, making hair flatter and shinier. Then, run the straightener from root to end, and repeat throughout your head. Note that speed matters. "If you're going too fast, your hair won't straighten," says Tricomi. "And if you go too slow, that's when your hair burns and damage occurs."